Duplex envelope



0a. 9, 1934; A BENEDICT 1,976,321

Y v DUPLEX ENVELOPE Y Filed March 25. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. c.BENEDlCT DUPLEX ENVELOPE @Cto 9 5 Sheets sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1932,upd

Oct. 9, 1934. A. c. BENEDICT DUPLEX ENVELOPE E) Sheets-Sheet- 5 ATroRNf.

Filed March 25, 1932'* 4o greater attention. -Y

Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE DUPLEX vENVELOIEAnthony C. Benedict, Rockville Centre, N.-Y. Application March 25,1932,Serial No. 601,100

22 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) Ihis invention relates to improvements induentrance ends of two different modifications of plex mailing envelopesof the kind having two my duplex envelope.. diierent compartments, oneof which is designed Fig. 7 is a front view of a duplex mailing entocontain first and other classes of mail matter velope showing'a stillfurther modification. while the other compartment is designed to con-Fig. 8 is a front view of a part of an envelope 6.0

tain mail matter less than first class. Such dubefore the lettercompartment is sealed and show plex mailing envelopes, their uses andadvantages ing another modication.

are known in the art and need no further de- Fig. 9 shows thecorresponding back view of scription. the envelope shown in. Figure 8.-10 The broad object of this invention is to gener- Fig. 10 is aminiature front view of the closed 65 ally improve the construction anddesign of duenvelope in Figure 8.

plex mailing envelopes with a view of greater Fig. 11 is a front view ofan envelope which eliciency. Another object of the invention is toillustrates a quite different construction and modprovide a duplexmailing envelope so arranged ication from the preceding views.

that when the larger compartment is opened it Fig. 12 is aminiaturefront view of the envelope 70- will at once appear that there is also asmaller in Figure 11. compartment containing a separate letter or Fig.13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 other enclosure strikinglyexposed to view, so that of Figure 11. the latter will not be overlookedand accidentally Fig. 14 illustrates a still further modifiedcondestroyed or thrown away with the envelope. struction showing theenvelope open. 75 Conversely, such a construction embodies the ad- Fig.15 is a miniature closed front view of envantage of instantly calling tothe attention of velope in Figure 14. the person filling the envelopethe absence of a Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional view of a modiletterbefore the envelope is closed. cation of the closing large iiap andsmaller com- Another object of my invention is to improve partmentclosure of the envelope in Figure 14. 80 certain existing types ofduplex envelopes in a Throughout this specification and the claims,manner to locate the entrances to the two comthat side of the envelopewhich exhibits or bears partments at the one end of the envelope. theaddress will be called the front of the en-v Still another object of myinvention is to provelope and the opposite side the back. The smallvidea duplex mailing envelope in which the large er compartment will becalled the letter compart- 85 fiap which may close the entire envelopeis arment and the larger compartment will be called ranged to appear onthe front side thereof, the catalogue compartment. These terms arewhereby to keep both entrances to the compartmerely explanatory and arenot used for purments as well as the address and the exposed letposes oflimitation.

ter in view when the envelope is opened and Referring now to Figures 1to 4 inclusive, the 90 closed. front of the envelope is marked l, theback 2 Still another object is to provide certain novel and the closingflap 3. 4 is the permanently features whereby the appearance of theduplex closed end. .Any usual and suitable 'closing envelope becomesmore striking thus gaining means such as 5 may be used for accessiblyclosing the envelope. 95

With these and other Objects in View, all 0f The envelope itself forms acatalogue compart- Which will appear hereinafter, my invention is ment6. Within the latter and against the front embodied in a duplex envelopedesigned and COnof the envelope there is formed a letter compartstructedas hereinafter set forth and as illus-A ment 7 by means of a partition 8of paper, the

.45 trated in the accompanying drawings in which three sides 9 of whichare pasted against the 100 Fig. 1 is a back View of a duplex mailingenvefront, while the fourth side is free and termilope embodying myinvention showing the envemates in a free sealing nap 10 which is gummed10p@ Openon the side facing the front l of the envelope. Fig. 2 is aback View of the same envelope shoW- The partition 8 is provided with awindow or cut 5 0 ing it closed. out 11 adjacent the sealing flap 10 andthe win- 105 Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of dow isexposed to View when the envelope is open Figure 2. as in Figure 1, theback of the envelope being Fig. 4 is a front view of the closed envelopcorrespondingly cut away as at 12 for this purready for mailing. pose.'I'he top edge 9 of the partition need not Figs. 5 and 6 are views,broken away, of the necessarily be 'pasted down. 110

on the back 2,

In use, a properly folded letter 14 is placed in the letter compartment7 by inserting it through the opening of the letter compartment underthe sealing flap 10 as indicated by the arrow 13 in Figure 1, and acatalogue or like matter is inserted in the envelope as indicated by thearrow 15 and the sealing flap is pasted against the closing flap 3.

The letter is now sealed as a first class piece of mail and thereafterthe envelope is accessibly closed in the usual manner by folding theclosing ap 3 and securing it by the fastener 5.

The back of the closed envelope as shownv inA Figure 2 appears as anusual accessibly closed envelope. The front of the envelope as shown inFigure 4 may be provided with a printed `outline 16 indicating a letterand other marks or outlines such as indicated at 17, 18, 19 and 20 for areturn card, the placing of the proper postage for different classes ofmail, attention calling legends and the like. 1 The front of theenvelope may be provided with the usual address window 21. The printedmatter on the front of theenvelope may of course be varied orpartlyeliminated as one desires. t

An envelope constructed and used as hereinabove described possesses theadvantage that when it is filled, the two compartment entrances areconveniently at one end and it shows ata glance through the window 11whether a letter has been properly placed in the letter compartmentbefore the envelope is closed. Also, the letter compartment beingagainst the front of the envelope insures the proper placing of theaddress to appear in the address window 21.

The recipient cannot fail to note that there are two classes of mailwithin theA envelope. When the flap 3 is opened and the catalogueremoved, he cannot fail to observe the letter through the window 11 andsee the entrance to the letter compartment. Andas a further means ofcalling attention to the letter, the partition 8 may be of a, differentcolor fromthat of the envelope. Of course, the letter may also have astriking distinguishing color to still further attract attention. l

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which the partition 8 terminatesat the folding line 22 of the envelope ap 3. In this case the partitionhas a cut away portion atV 23 to serve as a .window or means forexposing the letter 24.

The letter compartment is here sealed by pasting the free edge 25 of thepartition 8 against the front 1 of the envelope, the edge beingl gummedto the dotted line 26 for this purpose.

Figure 6 illustrates a further modification in.

which the letter partition 8 terminates in a plurality of sealing flaps27 and 28 between which there is a cut out 29 which serves as a letterexposing window. The flaps 27 and 28 are pasted against the flap 3 thesame as in`Figure 1. They are shown perspectively. In both Figures 5 and6 the other details of the envelopes havebeen omitted.

Figure 7 illustrates a duplex envelope which embodieslthe sameadvantages as the foregoing, but which in addition possessesan attentioncalling feature in that the envelope closing iiap with its seam isfolded down on the front 1 and not The letter sealing flap is sealed onthe outside of the front and appears Ain full view when the envelopeV isopened. For this :purpose the partition 30, corresponding to the parti-`tion 8, terminates in a sealing flap 31 which is slipped through avertical slit 32 in vthe 'front 1..

The flap is gummed as at 33 and may be of less width than the partition30. In this case the letter is inserted in the direction indicated bythe arrow 34 and lies in the letter compartment 7 between the partitionand the front as heretofore. Thereafter the flap 31 is folded and pasteddown against the front 1 on the outside of the envelope as indicated bythe dotted lines 35. The sealed letter will now appear not only in theaddress Window 21 but also at the corners 36 of the flap 31 as isobvious.

A catalogue is inserted in the envelope, see arrow 37, after which theap 3 which in this case is a part of the back 2 is folded over andaccessibly closed by means such as 38.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate an envelope which has the same generalfeatures and advantages described above in connection with Figures l to6 lbesides certain other novel features of construction whereby toprovide a striking appearance and calling attention to the two classesof mail in the envelope. In this instance the envelope has a front 1, aback 2 and a flap 3 as above described. The partition 41 is pastedagainst the front of the envelope on three sides but not at the bottom.As shown inFigure 9, the bottom 42 of the partition is not pasted atall. The one end 43 of the partition is pasted along its edge to thefront, while the other end has a cut out window portion at 44 and twosealing flaps 45-46 shown only in Figure 9 whichlatter are pastedagainst the-'envelope flap 3 the same as in Figure 6. Entrance to theletter compartment is from the outside in the front l of the envelope.The top of the partition 41 is formed with a letter sealing iiap'47-along the top folding edge 48 of the partition, said lap'47 beingpassed through a slit 49 in the envelope front from inside the envelopeto the outside thereof and the top edge of the partition 41 below theflap 47 is pasted to the front of the envelope at the outside thereof asshown at 53 immediately above'the slit 49.

There is thus formed a letter compartment 7 to which entrance is gainedfor insertion of a letter'52 in the direction of the arrow 50 throughthe slit 49 which serves as the top opening of the letter compartmentwhich latter is formed between the front of the envelope and thepartitionv 41. Thereafter the letter sealing ap 47 is folded down andpasted'against the front of the envelope on the outside thereof, asshown in Figure 10. A catalogue may be inserted in the envelope in thedirection of the arrow 51. In this caseof course, the sealing flaps 45and 46 may be pasted down when the envelope is manufactured. If they arenot pasted down, the letter maybe inserted at 44 as is obvious. Ineither case, the letter in the letter compartment is observable both inthe address window and in the Window at 44. The partition 4lvis readilypasted in position after rst slipping the sealing flap 47 through theslit 49. By making the partition of a color different from that of theenvelope a pleasing and striking appearance of the front of the envelopemay be developed.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 13 it will be seen that the main featuresof the invention have been retained in a modified envelopeconstructionernbodying other novel features for greater efficiency inuse. envelope is constructed in a manner different from the precedingones. As seen in Figure 13 the envelope front 1 as herein dened reachesup only part way on the envelope. The back 2 isa continuation'of thefront and is then bent In this case the body of the f back upon itselfand behind the front 1 so to form the upper portion 55 of the front andthe partition portion 8 between the front l and the back 2 behind thefront l. The flap 3 is integral with the back 2, see Figure 11 and theopposite end 4 of the envelope is closed by two flaps 56 and 57 whichare parts of the front 1 and partition portion 55-8.

The front 1 need not be of the same length as the portion 55 8 but maybe shorter and its left edge in the drawings pasted against the-portion55-8, which then of course will have a ilap 57 the full height of theenvelope'.

The upper edge of the front 1 is pasted at 59 to the partition member55-3 and a flap thereof 60 is bent forward and downward and pastedagainst the front 1 thereby providing a horizontal fold on the front ofthe envelope, see Figure 12. The flap 60 will appear as if it were to beopened to extract the letter, but this not being the case greaterattention will be directed towards the real entrance to the lettercompartment.

In addition, the front 1 is provided with the address window 21 and thepartition has a sealing ap 6l, Figure 11, which seals the lettercompartment 7 by being pasted down against the front 1. A letter 62 isinserted-in the compartment 7 as indicated by the arrow 63 and a catylatter is opened the recipient will at once see the sealing flap 61 ofthe letter compartment and also portions of the letter appearing at thecorners of the ap.

Figures 14 to 16 illustrate an envelope in which the letter compartmentis carried by the envelope flap 65 but nevertheless is pasted againstthe front of the envelope as herein defined. The front in this caseserving as the envelope flap or vice versa. f

Referring to Figure li'the envelope is constructed of a flap 65--or flapforming front 1---in continuation of the back 2 which in turn is bentupwardly upon itself so to form a false front portion 66 as it might becalled. K

llhe ends of the envelopes are sealed and closed by flaps 67 which maybe integral with the back 2 or with the portion 66. The flap frontv65--1 terminates in a foldable tip 68 gummed as at 69.

The letter compartment '7 is formed by pasting a partition 8 against thefront in a manner to receive the letter 'l0 and vto expose it at the topand at the corners '71. The letter is inserted as indicated by the arrow'l2 after which the letter sealing flap or tip 68 is pasted down toclose the letter compartment. A catalogue may thereafter be inserted inthe envelope as indicated by the arrow '73 and then the envelopefront-flap closed by means as at 74, it being noted that in this caseboth the sealing flap 68 and the envelope flap-front 654-1 have matchingapertures Y' 75 for closing purposes.

rThus there is provided an envelope having the unusual frontal`appearance seen in Figure 15 with the address appearing through thewindow 21 provided in the part-flap 65-1. The latter need not serve alsoas a sealing flap for 'the letter compartment as in Figure le, becausethe letter compartment may have its own sealing flap .76 as shown inFigure 16 lwhich shows said sealing iiap in its position in f ull linesbefore the letter is insertedand its sealed position in dotted lines.

In this instance of course the tab 68 is omitted.

From the foregoing itwill appear that in all cases the entrances to thetwo compartments are located at the same end or place in the envelope,except that an entrance to the letter compartment in Figure 8 is at thetop thereof on the outside; also thatv entrances to both compartmentsare on the same side ofthe envelope so that both compartments are lledand emptied at practically one operation without turning the envelope.

It will also be observed that in all cases does the letter compartmententrance appear immediately upon opening the envelope flap 3. .Also thatin all cases except Fig. '8 must the letter compartment be sealed beforethe envelope fiap is closed if rst class mail is placed in the lettercompartment. Colored paper may be used for the partitions to distinguishthem from the body of the envelope and that in some instances unusualstriking appearances may be produced. It will further be understood thatthe closing means or fasteners for the envelope aps may be selected tosuit. Printing directing matter may be placed wherever desired ornecessary and other details may be added, modified or interchangedwithin 'u the principle of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

It will further be understood that where in the foregoing it has beensaid that the three edges of the letter compartment partition were to bepasted down this need not be done. Where one edge is sufficientlyclose-to a fold of the envelope soas to be held by such fold the edge ofthe partition need not be pasted. 1

The flaps for closing the letter compartments have been shown gummed foruse when a first class letter is inserted in the compartment. If Inailless than rst class is placed within the letter compartment, the sealingflaps will of course not be sealed but merely left open or tucked in toprevent the contents from falling out and the term sealing ap in theclaims should be similarly understood. It should also be understood thatwhen it is not desired to mail the letter compartment or envelope atfirst class postage, means mean that there is exposure in every sense ofthe word, as when, for instance, transparent material such as sometimesheretofore used at address windows of envelopes may be employed at theexposing means. The exposing means may be located at any suitable placein the letter compartment, whether inside or outside the closure of themain or catalogue compartment.

I claimz- 1. A duplex envelope comprising a relatively large compartmentopen at one end, a flap integral with the front of the envelope foraccessibly closing said large compartment on the back of the envelope, apartition secured'within said large compartment against the front of theenvelope forming a relatively smaller letter compartment within theenvelope open at one end adjacent the aforesaid closing flap, a windowin saidl par-l tition for xposing a portion of a letter placed in saidletter compartment within a cutaway area of the back of the envelopewhen the latter is open and a sealing ap within said larger compartmentfor non-accessibly sealing the open end of said smaller compartment.

2. A duplex envelope comprising a relatively large compartment open atone end, a flap inte- .l

gral with the front of the envelope for accessibly closing said largecompartment on the back of the envelope, a partition secured Within saidlarge compartment against the front of the envelope forming a relativelysmaller compartment within the envelope open at one end adjacent thesaid closing flap, a window in said partition adjacent the open end ofthe said smaller compartment for exposing a portion of a letter placedtherein Within an open space in the back of the envelope when thelatter'is open, a sealing ap integral with said partition fornon-accessibly sealing the open end of the smaller compartment, the saidlarge compartment closing flap being adapted to conceal said partitionand its letter window when the envelope is closed.

3. A duplex envelope comprising an envelope body forming a relativelylarge compartment closed on three sides and open at the fourth side, apartition Within said large compartment forming a relatively smallercompartment closed on three sides against the front of the largercompartment and open at the fourth side in symmetrical relation With thesaid closed and open sides of the larger compartment, a sealing fia-pintegral with said partition for non-accessibly closing the open end ofthe smaller compartment, a window in said partition for exposing aportion of a letter placed Within the smaller compartment before andafter the same is sealed, a closing flap integral with the front of theenvelope for accessibly closing the larger compartment and overlappingthe sealing flap of the smaller compartment.

4. A duplex envelope comprising a relatively large compartment open atone end, a flap integral With the back of the envelope for accessiblyclosing said large compartment on the front of the envelope, a partitionsecured within said large compartment against the front of the envelopeforming a relatively smaller compartment within the envelope open at oneend adjacent the said closing flap, a sealing flap formed by saidpartition and disposed on the front of the envelope through a slittherein, said flap being adapted to non-accessibly seal the smallercompartment on the outside of the envelope front, said closing iiapbeing adapted, when closed on the front of the envelope to overlap saidsealing ap.

5. In a duplex envelope a compartment adapted to contain first classmail having a Window for exposing to view an address on a letter placedready for mailing inside said compartment and visual means in saidcompartment for exposing to view a portion of said letter other than theportion exposed through the said address Window, when said compartmentis closed.

6. In a duplex envelope adapted for mailing at the same time things atfirst class and other classes of postage, said envelope having a rstclass letter compartment, said compartment having openings other than anaddress window, said openings adapted to expose to view a portion of aletter placed for mailing in said compartment when the latter is closedas for mailing.

7. In a compartment envelope adapted for the joint mailing of a letterat first class postage and things at other classes of postage, saidenvelope having a first class letter compartment, visual means in saidletter compartment other than an address Window for exposing to View aportion of the contents of said compartment when the latter is closed asfor mailing.

8. In a compartment envelope adapted for the joint mailing of things atfirst class and other classes of postage, said envelope having acompartment adapted for first class mail and a second compartment forother classes of mail, exposing visualv means in said first class mailcompartment other than an address Window, said visual means adapted forexposing to View a portion including at least a part of one or moreedges of a letter placed therein and said compartment being closed asfor mailing.

9. In a compartment envelope as described in claim 7 a flap foraccessibly closing a second compartment after insertion of mail andoverlapping said exposing means when said ap is in the closed position.

l0. In a compartment envelope adapted for the joint mailing of things atrst class and other classes of postage, a compartment adapted for rstclass mail and a second compartment adapted for other classes of mail,exposing visual means in the first class mail compartment whereby aportion of a letter inside of the first class mail compartment ready formailng can be seen after the latter compartment is sealed, a flap forclosing said second compartment after insertion of mail, said flaparranged to overlap said exposing means When it is in the closedposition.

11. A duplex envelope as described in claim 4, and letter exposing meansin the said smaller compartment whereby a letter sealed in said smallercompartment as for mailing is exposed in part, said large compartmentclosing ap overlapping said exposing means when it is in the closedposition.

12. A duplex envelope comprising a main compartment, a flap integralwith the front of the envelope for acoessibly closing the saidcompartment, a partition secured Within the envelope forming a smallercompartment, a sealing iiap for closing said smaller compartment on thefront ofthe envelope, said sealing ap formed by said partition anddisposed on the front of the envelope through a slit therein, an endportion of said partition inside of the envelope adjacent the said maincompartment closing flap and extending beyond the back of the envelopeso that it is exposed to view when the said main compartment iiap isopened, said end portion having an opening through which a portion of aletter placed inside the smaller compartment as for mailing can be seenfrom vertically above said opening when said main compartment closingiiap is fully opened.

13. A duplex envelope as described in claim 12, said partition endportion adapted as a iiap With means for inaccessibly closing the saidletter compartment when said sealing flap is closed and sealed.

14. A duplex envelope comprising a relatively large compartment open atone end, a flap integral With the back of the envelope for accessiblyclosing said large compartment on the front of the envelope, a partitionsecured Within said large compartment against the front of the envelopeforming a relatively smaller compartment Within the envelope open at oneend adjacent the said closing flap, a second flap formed by saidpartition and disposed on the front of the envelope through a slittherein, said second ap being adapted to close the smaller compartmentagainst the outside of the envelope front, the first mentioned flapbeing adapted when closed on the front of the envelope to overlap saidsecond ap.

15. The combination with an envelope having a loose closing flap, of asecond envelope formed in combination With said former envelope andhaving a sealing ap in which the second envelope is provided with meansother than the usual address Window whereby are exposed to View thecontents of the second envelope when the sealing flap is sealed.

16. An envelope as described in claim 15 in which the exposing means isoverlapped by the flap of the larger envelope When said ap is in theclosed position.

17. An envelope as described in claim 15 in which the entrance of thesecond envelope is overlapped by the non-sealing ap of the formerenvelope when the latter is in the closed position.

18. An envelope as described in claim 15 in which both aps arepositioned on the front of the envelope when closed.

19. A duplex envelope with a rst class letter compartment, exposingvisual means in said compartment other than an address Window wherebythe contents of said compartment is exposed to view when the compartmentis closed as for mailing and a false entrance ap on the outside of theenvelope for indicating the existence of the letter compartment anddirecting attention to- Ward the exposing means.

20. The combination described in claim 15, both envelopes formed from asingle blank of paper suitably folded.

21. A duplex envelope having a compartment adapted for mailing things atfirst class with visual means in said compartment other than an addressWindow whereby the contents of said compartment is exposed to view whenthe said compartment is closed as for mailing, an open entrance to saidcompartment, and a second compartment With an open entrance, therespective compartment entrances and the said exposing visual meansbeing at the same side of the envelope.

22. In a duplex envelope having a main compartment having a looseclosing flap and a letter compartment having its own distinct looseclosing flap, a visual opening other than the usual address Window insaid letter compartment through which the contents of said lettercompartment can be seen from vertically above said opening when theclosing ap of said letter compartment is in the closed position.

ANTHONY C. BENEDICT.

